“It’s important in this business to know that it’s just your job” – Gregg Popovich on why the NBA is not everything in life
“It’s important in this business to know that it’s just your job” – Gregg Popovich on why the NBA is not everything in life
On the other hand, Popovich admitted winning has made it a lot easier for him to deal with his job.
After leading the Denver Nuggets to an emphatic NBA championship, Nikola Jokic said basketball is not the most important thing in his life, and it just happened to be something he is very good at. For many, it was a fresh perspective, but for longtime San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, it has been his general outlook all along.
According to Coach Pop, the NBA is the grandest basketball stage on the face of the planet, but his world doesn’t revolve around it.
“It’s important in this business to know that it’s just your job,” Popovich told Business Insider of his NBA career. “If you can get that into your head, win or lose, I think your players kinda learn that they can move on, too. Whether it’s a turnover in a game or two losses in a row, whatever it might be, you just move on. Because it’s your job but really not the most important, meaningful —important’s important, you gotta buy the groceries — but it’s not the most meaningful thing in your life. Whatever you believe in, your friends, your family, your kids, all that stuff, is way more important.”
“I don’t think you can be on your deathbed and say, ‘Gosh, I wish we had not gotten knocked out in the second round in ’74 or ’89.’ I don’t think that’s gonna happen,” he continued. “So, if that’s not gonna happen, screw it, find something else to do to be excited about.”
Winning makes Pop’s life and job easier
Popovich is currently the winningest coach in the NBA, and he is likely to hold the title for a more extended period of time. In terms of championships, Pop spearheaded the Spurs to five NBA titles, and it’s considered one of the greatest dynasties in the history of the game.
Indeed, Popovich has had an illustrious coaching career. And while he has done a great job drawing the line between work and personal life, Pop also admitted that it wouldn’t have been that easy for him if he hadn’t had a winning team.
“It’s easier to have a stable existence winning than losing, right?,” Popovich pointed out. “I talk to my good buddy [Philadelphia 76ers head coach] Brett Brown from time to time during the year. He’s the only human being I know on the face of the earth that can do what he’s done for these several years and still be, like, the most positive, teaching, upbeat guy I’ve ever seen. He’s like an anomaly. I couldn’t do that. I would’ve already been a basket case and doing something else. But I think in general, winning makes everything — the grass looks greener, the sky’s blue more often when you win a game than lose a game.”
No plans of slowing down anytime soon
This year, Popovich will welcome his 28th NBA season as head coach. Though he doesn’t consider himself a workaholic, Pop once said he’ll know when it’s time call it quits.
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